(And was our December busy!)
Our social-media traffic soared in December, with big interest in posts that centred on the differences of opinion among elected and hereditary chiefs on the Coastal GasLink natural-gas pipeline, and blockades of the line’s route.
The heavy online activity began with a guest column by our Alliance chair, Chief Dan George, in The Vancouver Sun on Dec. 15.
“It is time for First Nations governing authorities to work together for the benefit of the members,’ he said. “‘No’ is no longer the only answer. Economic reconciliation is the better way to protect and grow our communities into the future.”
Read it here
Then came a guest column by our CEO, Karen Ogen-Toews, in the Prince George Citizen on Dec. 22.
In her words: ‘We all lose while we are divided and positional. . . . We must try to find a higher ground to come together.’
Read it here
On Dec. 19, we issued a news release: “Gitxaala hereditary and elected chiefs work together for LNG.’ This followed a big Alliance meeting with Gitxaala leaders and elders in Prince Rupert. (LNG Canada also attended.)
‘I’m just waiting for the shovel to get into the ground’
Interest in the divisions over the Coastal GasLink pipeline hit a peak when a hereditary chief, Helen Michelle of the Skin Tyee Nation, told APTN that she supports the pipeline and the benefits it will bring to First Nations people.
Our social-media postings on this story reached more than 17,300 people, and generated almost 2,000 instances of comment and interaction by readers and viewers.
John Alan Jack joins our board
Please welcome our new Alliance board member: John Alan Jack, a councillor of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations on Vancouver Island, and chair of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District.
Our news release
John Jack biography
And in the Alberni Valley News
First Nations rights must be respected
While we focus primarily on BC LNG, we also cover national issues. Such as when AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde told First Ministers that no resource-project permits should be issued without prior involvement and accommodation for First Nations.
Also in the news
- Our letter to the editor in the Victoria Times Colonist on Dec. 8: ‘LNG means a lot to First Nations.’
- Kim Baird: BC leads country in advancing Indigenous rights
- Injunction extended to all blockades of Coastal GasLink pipeline
- Video: Chief Roland Willson on LNG Canada: ‘We were excited.’
- Video: LNG Canada and ‘respectful engagement’ with the Haisla Nation
